NECA’s stance on foil insulation:

Under the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program, some one million houses have been installed with home insulation around Australia. At least 37,000 of these have been insulated with tin foil insulation with Queensland the largest user of this technique.

It is assumed that the large majority, if not all, of the initial installations of tin foil were done using metal clips to fasten the tin foil to the ceiling joints. If proper installation methods are not used by the installer it is possible for a clip to enter into the electrical cable and touch the live copper conductor which then livens up the tin foil insulation.

In November 2009 Minister Garrett banned the use of metal clips under the subsidised program to install thermal insulation. They were replaced by plastic clips. However, even with plastic clips shoddy work practices can still result in potentially dangerous outcomes.

NECA considers it essential that all houses having tin foil insulation installed under the Federal Government package be inspected to determine whether the tin foil in the roof space is live.

Tin foil insulation is in itself not dangerous when installed with care to manufacturer’s instructions. This clearly has not been done to date. NECA believes that where tin foil insulation is going to be used, an electrician needs to be engaged to check the existing condition of the cabling in the roof space, and then after the insulation is installed, to test to see that the job is electrically safe and the tin foil not alive.

As of 9 February 2010, Minister Garrett has banned the use of tin foil insulation under the program.

However, NECA is concerned at the safety of the some 37,000 houses already installed with tin foil insulation under the Home Insulation Program. NECA calls on the Federal Government to institute an audit and testing regime involving a check by a licensed electrician to ensure that there is no danger of the insulation becoming alive and hence the risk of electrocution, shock or fire.